Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Transcendence and Immanence

Frame (ST, pp41-42) chooses several texts of Scripture to show both God's transcendence (up there) and immanence (down here) -

Deuteronomy 4:39 (NKJV)

39Therefore know this day, and consider it in your heart, that the Lord Himself is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other.

Deuteronomy 10:14–15 (ESV)

14Behold, to the Lord your God belong heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth with all that is in it. 15Yet the Lord set his heart in love on your fathers and chose their offspring after them, you above all peoples, as you are this day.

Joshua 2:11b (NKJV)

11 ..., for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.

Isaiah 57:15 (NKJV)

15For thus says the High and Lofty OneWho inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:“I dwell in the high and holy place,With him who has a contrite and humble spirit,To revive the spirit of the humble,And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

Ephesians 4:4–6 (NKJV)

4There is ... one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

Clearly, the point is that we enjoy a God who is both sovereignly over and separate (transcendent) from His creation, and at the same time, covenantally and personally bound (immanent) to and in His people.